As an administrator yourself, you probably are fully familiar with the feeling of being underappreciated. Since part of your job is to make things in the office flow smoothly, when you do it successfully you may find that people fail to recognize just how hard you have worked to “make the magic happen.” Unfortunately, sometimes this can actually spill over onto your own assistants who may themselves feel that you have overlooked their efforts in the hubbub of making the office run smoothly.

Here are three ways to make sure that the administrative staff on your team feel appreciated:
 

1. Just Say “Thank You”
   It sounds too simple, but many times a simple, “Thank you, I know how hard you are working,” can go a long way toward making someone feel like you recognize their efforts.
    
2. Feed Them
   Remember how much better you used to feel after Grandma gave you a glass of milk and a cookie? Well, doughnuts and coffee work too! A five-dollar box of doughnuts at the end of a particularly tough week can let your staff know just how much you appreciate their efforts and keep them working hard for you.

1. Remember the Little Things
   While it might seem silly, letting people know that you are listening when they talk lets them know that they are important and appreciated. For example, if you know that "Betty's" son has a ballgame on Thursday afternoon that she opted to skip in order to meet a deadline, be sure to thank her for that sacrifice specifically. Even if her decision is no less than anyone else is doing, letting her know you are aware of the sacrifice will help keep her from resenting you for it.

You know just how important it is to you that your efforts do not go unnoticed. Make sure that your team gets the same courtesy from you that you want from your supervisors and your productivity will skyrocket.